Coating device



ZJUULUQI F. P. CARLSON COATING DEVICE Filed July 21, 1933 INVI'ENTOR Flu/MP 6 62275072 ATTOR N EY,

Patented May 14, 1935 l UNITED STATEStPATENT-OFFICE 2,001,091 7 is Claims. (01. 91-50) This invention relates to devices for unithe sheet. Eventually an adhesive was apformly applying a coating substance simulplied to the other face of the work after the first taneously to both faces of a work piece and to applied gum became sufficiently dry to allow the method by means of which the coating the coating on the reverse side. Due to the operation is effectively accomplished. unevenness of the application and due to the 5 a Certain kinds of work require, for various successive drying, the edges of the work will reasons, to be coated either wholly or in part at curl, thereby seriously interfering with the both of its surfaces in such a way that the stacking up of the work. The curling reboating substance is not only uniformly disquires another operation, known as breaking,

10 tributed over the areas required to be covered, consisting of forcibly flattening out of the 10 but that such coating is neither interrupted gummed edges, whereby the dried adhesive surnor incomplete at any spot or at the start or face is broken. This is-usually done by hand.

I finish of the coated area. The application of Another important defect is found in heretosuperimposed covering-coatings is frequently fore used methods of edge-gumming, also due ill certain printed areas a metallic or water-proofthe applied adhesive. When the coating of gum ing layer is added. In the manufacture of labels is relatively thick, although it may be far thin- .and posters intended to be applied'to showner than the work itself, and the work is windows, mirrors, etc. from either within or stacked-up in the usual way, the edges will without, or designed to be wrapped around pile up much higher than the portions between 20 containers, with either of its printed faces the edges, rendering it impossible to stack-up exposed, the marginal edges of the work are the finished work to' commercially practical preferably provided with an adhesive border for heights. facilitating their attachment. The present method and device have for their Irrespective of the purpose for which the objects to overcome all of the aforementioned coated work may be intended, the application disadvantages, to simplify and materially reof the coating should be uniform in thickness, duce the cost and time of production, and to the coating should be thin and evenly distributed effect commercially practical, finished articles over the coated area clear of all blemish in which are neat in appearance, which will not the form of sediment, small particles or the curl and which may be piled up into sufficiently 3 like, and the coated surface must have no high stacks to produce a marked saving in space uncovered or bald spots, usually due to unin the shop, while at the same time effecting a even distribution of the coating substance and large saving in handling and shipping of the to gripping of the work at its ends for the finished work.

' of similar nature. A uniform and uninterrupted my invention will become more clearly evident application of a coating substance to the work from the following description and the accomresults in not only. highly economic and speedy panying diagrammatical drawing, adapted to production, but also in very satisfactory results serve for. explanatory purposes only and not inused in printed 'work, where, for instance, over to the unevenness, or rather the thickness of i5 purpose of feeding it through existing devices These and still further important objects of 1 as t t Practical use '0 t e fi s d W tended to in any way limit myinvention to the 40 V and-its ultimate pleasing appearance, not to actual showlng,

mention other advantages incidental to the In the drawing, gu 1 8 p View Of the method p yed. as w ll be m p s nt y ileft-hand portion of my device, considered from dent. the ,direction of advance of the work. Although the application of coating sub- Figure 2 is an elevation in partial cross-sec- 45 stancesto printed work is an old art, the heretotion of Fig. 1.

fore employed .methods and devices are not only Figure 3 is a diagrammatical delevoped plan limited as to their usefulness, but produce often view of a typical carrier arrangement of my deunsatisfactory work at a comparatively high vice.

cost. I now refer particularly to the manufac- Figure 4 is a plan view of a work-piece coated 50 ture .of labels, posters and the like, provided at its side edges, and

with marginal adhesive areas for their attach- Figure5 is an end view thereof. in exaggerated ment. Up to the present, such articles were proportions.

first printed and then their .edges were sup-- Referring now to the figureanumeral II) deplied with a cement or gum at one face of notes the left-hand portion of a feeder platform,

which may be adjusted to accommodate work of any desired width. Such adjustability is indicated by arrow I. The table or platform I0 is provided with a marginal edge II for guiding the work fed into the machine. A'work-feeder in the form of endless, parallelly disposed belt conveyors travels with its upper runs l2 over the top surface of the feeder platform and is intended to convey the work-pieces, for instance, sheets of either printed or unprinted paper, to the coating mechanism. The sheets are preferably held down against the upper conveyor surfaces by either a suction device or by resilient fingers or arms, which arrangements are not shown for the sake of clearness of the drawing.

The coating mechanism of my device consists of a reservoir for holding the coating substance, such as glue, cement, metallic mixtures, shellac or any other desired coating material or adhesive. The reservoir comprises a container 03, open at the top, in which the coating substance I4 is preferably kept at a constant level.

Partially immersed into the coating material and. mounted on a shaft l5 in fixed bearings is the primary coating-supplying and coatingapplying carrier H5, in the form of a metal cylinder ll, provided with a hub I 3 and an outer, resilient work-engaging layer it.

In contacting engagement with primary carrier it is the primary coating distributor 20, mounted upon floating'shaft 2i, which is adjustably supported by arm 22 from stationary shaft or pins 23. The purpose of the floating suspension of distributor 20 is to render it adjustable, so that it may be forcibly held against carrier it and adjusted to any desired degree of pressure, in the manner indicated by the arrow over arm 22.

Superimposed above and in intimate, adjustable contact with primary carrier i6, is a secondary carrier 24, consisting of a metallic, cylindrical body 25, provided with hub 26, and covered with a work-engaging, resilient rim 2?. This carrier is mounted on floating shaft 28, supported by adjustable arm 29, which latter is pivoted at fixed points 30. Due to its floating suspensiomsecondary carrier 24 is adjustable relative to the primary carrier, as indicated by arrows over arm 29, and may be caused to bear thereagainst at any desired degree by means of a spring arrangement, adjusting screws or other suitable means, not shown.

In contacting engagement with the secondary carrier 24 are two sets of rotary and oscillating secondary distributors 3| and 32, mounted, respectively, on shafts 33 and- 34 in pairs, only one of each pair being shown in the drawing. At the ends of shafts 33 and 34 are provided collars 35 and 36 engaged by a centrally pivoted arm 31, adapted to impart by its swinging operation, indicated by arrows, an oscillating motion to the revolving secondary distributors. The shafts of these distributors are lodged in adjustable bearings, not shown, so as to facilitate the positioning of rolls 3| and 32 in proper or desired relation to the work-engaging surfaces of the secondary coating carriers. Such possible adjustment towards or from the carriers, as indicated by arrows II in Fig. 2, is of far reaching importance in respect to the amount and quality of the coating applied to the upper surface of the work, as will be explained later on in this specification.

I prefer to construct these cylinders from metal, however any other suitable, relatively non-resilient material may be employed. The

same applies to the construction of the primary distributor 20 and the interior bodies of both carriers, which are made of either metal or other suitable relatively non-elastic matter. When rust-producing adhesive is used in the device, I prefer to employ aluminum for the primary distributor 2i and for the interior parts I! and 25 of conveyors l6 and 24 respectively. The oscillating secondary distributors are made of brass.

Attention is called to the attachment of all rolls to their respective shafts. Instead of the usual key-way and key, I employ set-screws in the hubs of the rolls throughout, since I have found that the slightest unbalancing of the shafts or rolls causes a hardly perceptible vibration of the rotary mechanisms, which however is sufllcient to cause readily distinguishable marks of uneven distribution of the applied coating.

At the right-hand portions of Figures 1 and 2 and in rear of the carriers, a plurality of double conveyors for the coated work is provided, each consisting of lower and upper endless belts 38 and 39, adapted to contact with their respective inner runs, both of which are adapted to move simultaneously in the direction outward or from the carriers.

Disposed above work-feeding conveyors l2 and conveyors 38, and arranged in spaces between these conveyor arrangements, there is provided a work-straightening means, consisting of sprockets or wheels indicated at 40 and 4i, mounted in pairs or in greater numbers on shafts 42 and 43. Sprocket chains 44 connect the sprocket wheels, and support work-stops 45, which are in exact alignment over the entire width of the machine, and are designed to move into the path of the work, as may be seen at 45' in Fig. 2.

Forming a continuation of double conveyors 38 and 39 are delivery rolls 46 mounted to shaft 41 and designed to assist the transfer of the coated work to drying conveyor 48, operating within drier 49, from which latter the finished work is eventually discharged.

The illustration of Figures 1 and 2 represent, as stated previously, only the left-hand portion of my device, the width of which depends upon the size of work to be handled. Its right-hand portion, a symmetrical counterpart of what is shown, is to be visualized and is to be considered to complete the structure and to contain the driving mechanism of the device, which latter is'intended to forcibly actuate the various rotary parts and conveyors in the desired directions indicated and at the desired speeds.

Referring to Fig. 3 the primary carrier I6 is illustrated at the centre between the primary distributor 20 at its left and the secondary carrier 24'at its right. It will be observed from this figure that the width of the distributor is slightly greater than that of the primary carrier, and that the width of the latter exceeds the width of the secondary carrier. Such arrangement of theserotors is by no means arbitrary and came about through extensive practical experiments in the effort to obtain a uniform, never varying coating of a desired thinness at both faces of the work, without heavier side margins, streaks of other blemish. In this flgure there will also be observed the correct position of the wiper 50, which bears against the inner faces 20"and 16' of the primary distributions of rolls it and 24. It will be noted that (two sides or edges of these rolls are substantially flush with one another (the upper edges of the rolls shown in Fig. 3), whereas the other lower edge of roll it: ezitends substantially beyond the other lower edge of roll it.

Inasmuch as the work to be coated passes over the coinciding (upper) edges of the rolls, but does not travel over more than a relatively small portion of the width of the rolls, the unused parts of the rolls surfaces will carry up a sufficient quantity of coating material to the secondary reciprocating distributors 3i and 32, so as to fully cover the applying surface of roll it for an adequate coating operation of the upper face of the work. The fact that that area of roll l6 which extends beyond the lower edge of roll 26 carries up an extra supply of the coating material, which is unaffected by the contact between rolls it and 2 1, a transfer of that extra coating material is made to the off-set face of roll 2t, thereby augmenting the required supply of the .coating material carried up by the contacting portions of the roll surfaces.

From the foregoing it becomes clearly evident that the simultaneously accomplished coat- I ing operation at top and bottom of the work entirely depends upon the simultaneous transfer of the coating material from one roll to the other, while the application of the coating upon the work is taking place.

In Figures 4 and 5 are illustrated typical samples of the finished work. Numeral M indicates a sheet of'either printed or unprinted paper, the upper face 52 of which represents its so-called finished face, while 53 indicates the rough or unfinished face thereof. At the side edges of the sheet are provided upper coatings M and lower coatings 55 of even width, thickness and uniformity, without a fault, bald spots or left-out at ends of the coating areas, so often to be observed in similar work produced heretofore.

Operation In Figures 1 and 2 numerous arrows are marked at or near the different parts .of the machine, indicating directions of movements. Thus on hub I5 of primary carrier it is an arrow indicating that the latter revolves clockwise, while the secondary carrier moves in opposite direction as is the case with primary distributor 2%, whereas oscillating secondary distributors 3i and 32 rotate clockwise. The'upper run M of the work-feeder moves towards, and the adjacent runs of conveyors 3B and 39 travel away from the coating mechanism. The upper run of the work-straightening meansadvances to the left, while its lower run travels to the right.

. All of the shafts of the various parts of the machine are positively or forcibly driven so that there may not occur any slippage or lost motion between any of the moving units. Thesurface speeds of all parts is alike, except that of the work-feeder-runs I12, which move at an increased speed, indicated by double arrows III in Figures 1 and 2.

As a sheet is placed upon upper runs I2 of the work-feeder, it is conveyed towards the coating mechanism until its forward or leading edgecomes in contact with blocks or work-stops (or $5) on the bottom run of chain M, which latter moves at the same speed as the coating rolls. The sheet, held down against the upper runs l2 of the work-feeder is continuously-urged against the work stops by each 'of the runs it individually, so that its leading edge, before reaching the carriers is brought into parallel position with the carrier shafts. This is due to the exact alignment of all the work-stops car- ,ried by the chains of the work-straightening arrangement.

The primary carrier elevates a quantity of the coating from the reservoir, which coating is uniformly distributed over that carrier by primary distributor 2,0, while the surplus coating substance is scraped off from the inner faces of the two rolls by wiper 50 and diverted back into the reservoir. The sides of the sheet, indicated in broken lines in Figures 1 and 2, are directed between the two carriers in such a way that the latter grip the sheet only at an area near their respective inner edges. Thus only a portion of the work-engaging or worksurfaces of the carriers is employed for applying a coating to the sheet, while the rest of their work-surfaces are utilized for the transfer of the coating substance from the primary to the secondary carrier.

Before the upper 'or secondary carrier can effectively coat the upper surface of the sheet, the coating substance transferred from the area of the primary carrier, which is unaffected by the coating of the lower sheet surface, must be brought back to the edge area. In other words the transferred coating of the secondary carrier must be spread and evenly distributed over'thc entire work-surface of the upper carrier. Such distribution is effected, by the oscillation of the secondary distributors 3i and 32.

The correct coating of the two surfaces of the sheet greatly depends upon the structure of the sheet material, its upper, so-called finished and its lower, unfinished surface, for the reason that the latter much more readily absorbs the coating, and therefore requires a more generous supply, while the upper surface resists the penetration of the coating, consequently'demanding a lesser supply. When after absorption of the moisture contained in the coating, the latter dries upon both faces of the sheet and the layers proved to have different thicknesses, the edges of the sheet will curl up towards the thicker layer. ondary carrier becomes over-supplied with coating material. By increasing or'decreasing the contact pressure between the secondary distributors and the upper carrier, or by altering the degree o'f oscillation of the distributors, the supply of the coating substance reaching the upper sheet surface is regulated. V

When the coated sheet leaves the carriers, it is conveyed between the adjacent runs of conveyo rs 38 and 39 and over rolls M5 to an electric drying deviceconsistin'g of a heat-proof belt conveyor 48, operating in casing t9, from which latter the finished work is discharged for. handling in the usual way.

In the foregoing description certain terms nate rotors supplying and applying a coating Such would be the case when the secill substance and distributors indicate coating distributing means. The latter constitute some of the most essential parts of my device and must be capable of a minute manual and subsequent self-adjustment to deliver uniformly applied coatings.

In recapitulation of the. above described invention, its salient features may be compassed as follows: A controlled, continuous supply of coating substance, pie-distributed over the work-engaging faces and applied simultaneously in thin layers to both surfaces of the work, the unfinished or more porous surface receiving its coating from a portion of the work-engaging surface of the primary carrier, the remaining surface transferring the coating substance to the secondary carrier, from a portion of the workengaging surface of the primary carrier, the remaining surface transferring the coating substance to the secondary carrier; from a portion of the latters work-surface the upper face of the sheet receives the coating, but not before the latter is evenly distributed over the entire Work surface of the upper carrier.

While I have shown and described specific forms of my device and the method followed to produce the desired results, it is quite evident that my invention is capable of a great many modifications, whereby entire surfaces or other parts than edges of sheets may be simultaneously coated at both faces, thereby saving many handling operations and producing a well finished article of uniform quality and appearance at a much lesser cost than possible up to now. By the same token, my device may be employed for applying but a single face coating to certain work. Obviously I shall not be limited to exactly the subject matter disclosed, but reserve for myself the right to make changes and improvements in, and to employ my invention for allied purposes within the broad scope of the following claims.

I claim:

l In a coating device, the combination with a single supply source, of a plurality of coacting coating carriers adapted to simultaneously coat both faces of the work, means in cooperation with one of the carriers for evenly distributing the coating thereover, without permitting an undue accumulation thereon, and the sides thereof, of a surplus of the coating, and means in operative engagement with another carrier for evenly distributing thereover the coating prior to applying it' to the work.

, 2. In a coating device for simultaneously, uniformly and uninterruptedly applying a coating to both faces of the work, a plurality of rotary coating carriers in cooperation with one another, one of the carriers adapted to both supply the coating and to apply the same at one face of the work, another carrier adapted to apply the coating at the other face of the work, said supply-carrier adapted to transfer the coating to the other carrier, and means operatively coordinated to the latter carrier for evenly distributing its transferred coating before applying same to the other face of the work.

3. In a coating device for simultaneously, uniformly and uninterruptedly applying a coating to both faces of the work, a combination coating-supplying and coating-applying primary carrier, a coating-applying secondary carrier, both carriers being rotatably mounted and adapted to revolve in opposite directions towards one another, a single supply reservoir disposed below said primary carrier, the latter adapted to be partially submerged in and to elevate the coating from within the reservoir, a rotary distributing member in cooperation with said primary carrier, wiper means in engagement with said distributing member and said primary carrier, coating distributing means in operative coordination with said secondary carrier, the primary carrier adapted to coat one face of the work, the secondary carrier adapted to coat simultaneously the other face of the work after its coating has passed said coating distributing means.

4. In a coating device for the purpose described, a single coating supply container, a primary coating supplying and applying carrier partially immersed in the coating substance of the container, an adjustably mounted coatingdistributing member in operative engagement with and wider than said primary carrier, a wiper engaging the extending edges of said member and the receding edges of said primary carrier, an adjustably mounted secondary carrier superimposed above and narrower than said primary carrier, both carriers being rotatable and adapted to revolve at equal speed in opposite directions toward one another, and oscillating rotary coating-distributing means adjustably mounted relative to, in cooperation with, and considerably wider than. said secondary carrier.

5. The combination with a coating device, as set forth in claim 4, of work feeding means, adapted to operate at a speed higher than that of said carriers, a conveyor for the coated work, adapted to operate at the speed of said carriers, and work delivering means adjacent to said conveyor, adapted to also operate at the speed of the carriers.

6. Ihe combination with a coating device, as set forth in claim 4, a delivery or Work feeding means disposed ahead of said carriers and adapted to operate at a higher speed than the latter, work straightening means disposed above said work feeding means and adapted to operate at the speed of said carriers, a delivery conveyor and work discharge means arranged, respectively, in front and rear of said carriers and adapted to operate at the speed of the latter.

'7. In a device for coating simultaneously both faces of the work, a coating container, a primary coating carrier partially immersed in the coating substance of the container and adapted to elevate the coating and apply the same to one face of the work, an adjustably mounted rotary distributor in forcible engagement with said primary carrier, wiping means contacting with said primary carrier and the distributor, an adjustably mounted secondary carrier in forcible engagement with said primary carrier and superimposed thereabove, adjustably mounted, rotary oscillating distributing means in forcible engagement with said secondary carrier, said carriers, said distributor and said distributing means operating at an equal surface speed, a work feeder disposed ahead of said carriers and operating at a higher speed than the carriers, a delivery conveyor and work discharge means operating at the speed of said carriers, and work straightening means in cooperation with said work feed, operating at the speed of said carriers, the width of said distributor for the primary carrier being greater than that of the primary carrier, the ,width of eration therewith and a secondary carrier superimposed above and in constant operative engagement with said primary carrier, the width of the distributor being greater than that of the primary carrier, the width of the latter being greater than that of the secondary carrier.

9. In a device for the purpose described the combination with a single supply source, of a primary coating-supplying and coating-applying carrier rotary mounted in fixed bearings, a

secondary coating-supplying and coating-applying carrier in cooperation with and narrower than the former, mounted in floating bearings and adapted to operate under forcible contact with the primary carrier, both carriers provided with resilient working surfaces, a substantially nonresilient primary distributor in cooperation with and wider than said primary carrier, lodged in floating bearings and adapted to constantly and forcibly bear against said primary carrier, wiping means in engagement with the latter and said primary distributor, substantially non-resilient secondary distributing means oscillatingly and rotatably mounted, and adapted to be adjustable relative to and in engagement with the secondary carrier, and being considerably wider than the latter, saidcarriers, distributor and distributing means adapted to operate at equal surface speeds, work-feeding means arranged ahead of the carriers and adapted to operate at an increased surface speed, and conveying means for the coated work, disposed in rear of the carriers and adapted to operate at the surface speed of the carriers.

10. In a device as set forth in claim 9, said carriers comprising metallic rolls provided with resilient, work-engaging surfaces.

11. In a device as set forth in claim 9, means in cooperation with said work-feeding means for straightening the work fed to said carriers, prior to being engaged by them.

12. In a device for simultaneously and uniformly coating two edges at both faces of a sheet, a pair of primary coating-supplying and coating-applying carriers mounted on a common shaft, lodged in fixed bearings, coating supply reservoirs so disposed beneath the primary carriers that they are partially immersed in the coating, a primary distributor for each carrier, mounted on a common floating shaft and adapted to be adjustable relative to, and in desired forcible contact with said carriers, said distributors arranged above the coating substance of the reservoirs, a pair of secondary ter adapted to facilitate any desired adjust-. ment of the secondarvdistributors towards or from said secondary carriers, thereby varying the contact pressure, controlling the distribution of the coating over the surfaces of the carriers, said primary and secondary carriers and their respective distributors adapted to operate.

at an equal surface speed, and wiper means in engagement with the inner surfaces of the .pri-

mary carriers and the primary distributors.

13. In a device, as set forth in claim 12, a work-feeder disposed-ahead of said carriers and adapted to operate at a greater speed than the carriers, a work-straightening means in cooperation with said work-feeder, adapted to operate at the speed of. the carriers, and comprising a pair of bands or chains provided with a plurality of aligned work-stops, the latter adapted to coordinate the progress of the work relative to the speed of the carriers, in between which the work is fed, endless conveyors disposed in rear of the carriers, adapted to operate at the latters speed and to convey the coated work from the carriers, work-delivery means forming the continuation of said conveyors and operating at the same speed as the latter, and means adjacent to said delivery means for drying the coated work.

14. In a device of the class described, the combination with a single supply source, of a plurality of primary coating-supplying and applying carriers, a plurality of secondary carriers, rotary primary distributors extending with both of their ends beyond both sides of, and being in cooperation with the primary carriers, rotary and reciprocating secondary distributors co-acting with the secondary carriers, all said carriers and distributors operating forcibly at the same speed, said carriers comprising metal rolls provided with resilient work surfaces, said distributors comprising metal cylinders in contact with the work surfaces of said carriers.

15. In a device as set forth in claim 14, the

width of the primary distributors exceeding those of the work surfaces of the primary carriers, the Width of the latter exceeding that of the secondary carriers, and said secondary distributors having a width substantially exceed-' ing that of the secondary carriers, one of the facesof each cooperating primary and secondary carrier substantially coinciding with one another, while the other face of each secondary carrier is off-set relative to the corresponding face of the .primary carrier.

16. In a coating device, a single source of supply or well, a primary coating carrier partially extending into said well, means in cooperation with and controlling and evenly distributing the amount, of coating material carried by the primary carrier, the latter adapted to directly apply one portion of the coating material to one face of the work, a secondary carrier in operative engagement with said primary carrier and adapted to take up the other portion of the coating material from said primary carrier, means operatively associated with said secondary carrier for evenly distributing over the latters work surface' the taken-up portion of the coating material prior to applying it to the opposite face of the work.

17. Means for simultaneously and uniformly coating both faces of relatively soft and pliable Work, in the form of individual sheets, comprising a single supply of coating material,

means for individually feeding the sheet work in a continuous succession, means for elevating a portion of the coating material and evenly distributing that portion to a film of uniform thinness, means for applying a part of the film to one face of the work, means for transferring another part of the film to the opposite side of the work, means for moving the transferred film part to a position from which the desired portion of the other face of the work is to be coated, and means for evenly redistributing the transferred and moved film part before its application to the work, and means for applying that other film part in its even, redistributed condition to the opposite face of the work.

18. Means for simultaneously applying uniformly predistributed coating films to both faces of relatively soft and pliable work in individual sheet-form from a single supply of coating material, comprising a single coating supply, means for moving in a continuous succession individual sheets of work, means for elevating from the to its application, into the path of the work,

and for applying the redistributed and moved film part to the opposite work face.

FRANK P. CARLSON. 

